Ski Patrol Course – Sun Peaks

Course Type Ski Patrol
Dates 6th Feb-1st April
Price From £7300
Venue Canada - Sun Peaks
Qualifications NUEC L3 | Avalanche Skills L1 | Advanced Protocol
Add Flights? Add flights for £550

About the Trip

Ski Patrollers are part of an elite management team, and employees must be well prepared and trained to a very high standard. It’s not for the faint-hearted and requires a good level of skill to get around the mountain in all conditions. You learn to rescue and administer first aid on the mountain, as well as avalanche control, rope rescue and lift evacuation; it’s full on but extremely rewarding.

You’ll be first on the mountain, preparing the slopes for the day, looking after injured guests and ensuring everyone gets down safely when the mountain closes. You’ll learn about and get certified in outdoor emergency patient care, avalanche control, air rescue, helicopter orientation, toboggan handling, mountaineering and many other essential and fascinating skills that will help you find work within the Ski Patrol Service. Ski Patrollers require a lot of specialist equipment you will receive on loan during your course, ensuring you get real hands-on experience with patroller-grade avalanche safety gear.

Features
  • CPR – BLS for Healthcare Professionals
  • Advanced Protocol Training
  • Aerial Lift Evacuation & Self Evacuation
  • Avalanche Skills Training, Level 1
  • Incident Investigation
  • Helicopter Orientation, Air Evacuation, Air Rescue
  • Mentoring
  • Non-Urban Occupational Emergency Care, Level 3
  • Rope Rescue
  • Patient Extrication &
    Evacuation
  • Risk Management
  • General Patrolling
  • GPS & Compass Orientation
  • Snow Ready Fitness Programme
Benefits
  • Qualified to work anywhere in the world
  • Guaranteed job interviews for the top achievers
  • Safety skills to progress into the back-country
  • Improved risk management awareness
  • One-to-one mentoring with the Mountain Ops Team
  • Gateway to vocational employment options
  • Strong first aid skills to apply to any industry
Click to see what the fuss is about!
Accommodation
About the location
Meal Plan
Testimonials

The Hearthstone Lodge

Located in the heart of Sun Peaks Resort, the Hearthstone Lodge is the perfect base for a short snowboard instructor course. Forgot your goggles or want to head back for Lunch? The Hearthstone is ski-in/ski-out and only a short walk from all the shops, restaurants and ski lifts. Based on the alpine style with spacious rooms, it has everything you need to make it a home-from-home.

The studios and 1-bedrooms suites are well set up for both a short or long stay. All feature a kitchenette, gas fireplace, dining area and free wireless internet. The dining room table seats 4 people, and there’s a flat-screen TV and comfy sofa for relaxing on when the room is set up for single or double occupancy. Rooms are set out in blocks, so you’ll be next to all your fellow instructor mates.

Guest amenities include a fitness room, outdoor hot tubs, ski storage and a laundry area.

Facilities
Ski-in, Ski-out
Outdoor Hot Tubs
Gym
24 Hour Reception
Lockable Ski Storage
Wifi
Fireplace
Kitchen
Ensuite

Resort

The resort of Sunpeaks is nestled snuggly in the valley between 3 mountains spanning 4200ac of fantastic terrain,

Take the lifts to the Top of the World, and breathe in the expansive vistas as the snow ghosts bow to the Bluebird mornings. Catch one of the 13 lifts, get immersed in one of the 137 runs, and disappear into 16 gladed areas.

Finding some of the best-untouched powder amongst tree-lined runs to the 10-acre terrain pack is a treat for anyone wanting to get the most out of this fulfilling venue. Avoid the white-out days, the chaos and long lift queues that plague some of our neighbouring resorts.

Offering some of the best conditions that BC offers and officially the sunniest resort in BC, it’s no surprise that people flock from around the world to see what the fuss is about. Maybe that’s why the Interski trials are held here.

Back it up with enough hotels, shops, bars, restaurants, cafes and amenities to make it the 2nd most extensive resort in Canada. You’ve got a world-class venue to keep the most discerning characters grinning from ear to ear and prepared to be astounded.

Breakfast and Dinner

If it’s one thing, we want you to do. It’s to stay fuelled up.

Four breakfasts and dinners per week are included with your course, meaning you’ve got time to relax and concentrate on what’s important. But the best bit. We don’t use just one restaurant; we use 5. With pretty much the pick of the menu, it gives you enough variety every week to not get bored and ensures you’re getting what you need.

Special nights are arranged during the course when everyone can get together for something a little different. Mexican Margherita night anyone?

As great as it is being catered for, there’s plenty of time to cook for yourself back in your studio. We get it. Sometimes it’s nice to relax, order a pizza, or make a big bowl of pasta, and catch up on Netflix. Regardless of your culinary skills, there are plenty more places to eat in Sunpeaks village. Whether you’re a vegetarian*, meat fiend, spice lover, or want something simple, there’s something for everyone.

*Please say if you have dietary requirements as we can advise what is possible, or even suggest self-catering if that works better for you. We’ll also give you plenty of advice on how much to budget for all your extra costs, plus that odd cheeky beer!

Trust Pilot Review

The Winter Sports Company has been brilliant, always helpful and quick to answer any questions or problems I might have. Training alongside an actual ski-patrol team was unbelievable and a brilliant way to get hands-on and involved in the day-to-day life as a ski patroller. Being able to do the course on a snowboard made it so much easier for me personally, and there were many advantages to it, as well as disadvantages which only added to the challenge! The whole experience has been the best of my life; I would highly recommend anyone to just bite the bullet and go and do it; you won’t regret it. You only regret the things you didn’t do!

Craig Geary 2021

Training Package

Training covers 13 modules. A full breakdown of the module content can be found on our ski patrol qualifications page.

  • Module 1: CPR – BLS for Healthcare Professionals
  • Module 2: Non-Urban Occupational Emergency Care, Level 3
  • Module 3: Advanced Protocol Training
  • Module 4: Rope Rescue
  • Module 5: Aerial Lift Evacuation & Self Evacuation
  • Module 6: Patient Extrication & Evacuation
  • Module 7: Avalanche Skills Training, Level 1
  • Module 8: Risk Management
  • Module 9: Incident Investigation
  • Module 10: General Patrolling
  • Module 11: Helicopter Orientation, Air Evacuation, Air Rescue
  • Module 12: GPS & Compass Orientation
  • Module 13: Mentoring

Specialist Equipment
All specialist equipment required for training is provided as part of the course.
You will receive a pack with all the essential equipment required to work with the ski patrol. Items include Avalanche safety gear: probe, shovel, transceiver, first aid supplies and medical equipment. Backpacks are on loan and must be returned in good condition. They can be purchased at the end of the course in the resort if requested.

Additional Training Options
Become ultra employable and become a ski or snowboard instructor too. CSIA level 1 and CASI level 1 are available by joining the 11 Week Ski Patrol + Instructor level 1 course starting in January.

Visa Assistance & Job Opportunities
We have partnerships and connections with several sports schools worldwide and can offer guidance to help you find employment as a patroller once qualified.
We provide comprehensive advice and assistance when applying for working holiday visas.

Snow Ready Fitness Plan
Created for Winter Sports by a personal trainer & instructor, this eight-week pre-season fitness programme targets the muscle groups used in skiing & snowboarding and will make sure you are snow-fit in time for the start of your course.
Snow Ready Fitness Programme

Not included in the course price is the core textbook. Outdoor Emergency Care – 6th Edition costs approx £89.99 and must be purchased before the course start date.

Weekly Schedule

Ski Patrol training is provided 4-5 days a week, typically Monday-Friday. In addition, mentoring and shadowing the Patrol team is often scheduled for days over the weekend, plus two weeks in the end.

Week One

Settling in, resort orientation and acclimatisation. Introduction to general ski patrolling. Rope Rescue.

Week Two

Aerial lift evacuation & self-evacuation, introduction to GPS & Compass, Risk Management and Incident Investigation.

Week Three

Avalanche Skills Training Level 1 and mentoring with Ski Patrol.

Week Four

Non-Urban Occupational Emergency Care, Level 3.

Week Five

Non-Urban Occupational Emergency Care, Level 3.

Week Six

Advanced Protocol, Patient Extrication Evacuation, Heli-Orientation & Air Evacuation.

Week Seven-Eight

On-mountain mentoring with Sun Peaks Ski Patrol.

Amazing! 5 stars I did the Level 1 and Ski Patrol course and had an amazing time. Emma and Rik organised an absolutely banging 11 weeks for our group. They sorted all my flights and made sure I had all the info I needed. Unfortunately, our season was cut short from COVID-19 but they promptly organised our journey home. Jari, our resort rep was a great guy to hang out with, super friendly and knew lots about the area and what there was to do. Not only were they super helpful throughout the time I spent in Canada but they've continued to message me in the months post returning home to check up. Would recommend to anyone time and time again! Thank you winter sports!

George Smith
Five star

Bolt on courses

The Bolt-ons are the point where you can turn your already stellar winter season into something truly unforgettable. Whilst some are devised to improve your CV, some enhance your smile. The Heliski experience will have you grinning from ear to ear all the way back home through your front door. So decide what is critical for you, an adrenaline ride,  gap year, career-breaking, mid-life crisis-soothing adventure? Or something that will put another few dollars on your wages and make your instructor resume stand out?

These are ancillary offerings to our clients once onboarded. It is a simple, transparent method so you can cherry-pick what you want and, more importantly, not be forced into paying over the odds for something you do not wish to.

Avalanche Skills Training Level 1

Learn and equip yourselves with the knowledge and confidence to understand the conditions ahead and to make that often critical decision. This is included in your programme.

Canadian Adaptive Snowsports

Canada Adaptive Snowsports Level 1 certifies instructors to teach skiers and snowboarders with disabilities.

CASI Park Level 1

Candidates on the course will spend time exploring snowboarding techniques and teaching methods as they relate to introductory terrain park and freestyle snowboarding.

Tree Wells & All Mountain Safety

An absolute must-do! A one-day course for all skiers and snowboarders who venture off the groomed runs.

End of Season Race Event

Participants will be able to test their skills and stamina to pick that race-winning line and win the coveted Winter Sports Co Trophy, amongst other prizes. End of March

ACA-CSC Entry Level Race Coach

Entry Level certification enables the holder to be hired by a club or ski school to start coaching in an entry-level ski racing program.

Introduction to Back Country Touring

New to backcountry touring, looking to escape the crowds, this is the course for you!

Students will be introduced to the fundamentals of safe backcountry travel, including terrain assessment, hazard analysis, companion rescue, equipment familiarisation, and backcountry touring techniques.

Off Piste & Powder Training

It offers a blend of coaching geared towards boosting your technique in deep snow, giving you the ability to charge through powder with confidence.

Revelstoke Steep & Deep

Make the pilgrimage, and learn to ski deep on the most vertical mountain resort in North America, with over 1,700 metres of elevation, filled with pure heaven to enjoy. A genuine bucket list item

Day out at Harper Mountain

This includes a day on the mountain with tubing in the morning, lunch, and an afternoon of skiing.

Nordic Technique & Training

Learn from the Nordic Coaches and get the best out of this magical discipline

Dog Sledding

Dog sledding is a real experience – there is quite simply nothing like the sensation of being in control of your dogsled and husky team, putting your trust in your dogs and earning their friendship in return.

Trip to Silverstar

Trip to Silverstar Resort. Enjoy the laid back mountain, Have a change of scenery and see what all the buzz is about.

Ski & Board Tech Tips

This course covers routine tuning, maintenance, fitting and essential repair work. Learn to get the most out of your equipment.

Ice Hockey Night

Watch the Kamloops Blazers in action. Great night out.

Wine and Gastro Tour

Enjoy a civilised evening as you taste your way around the village.

Terrain Park Training

Sick of landing on your backside, face planting under rotating, losing your balance or worse, your nerve…..all these answered and more in our Terrain park day.

What is included

Sun Peaks Skiing

A good snow base falls early in the season and Sun Peaks continues to receive fresh powder all season. Sun Peaks is an ideal resort to learn ski patrol, making first tracks in the morning and getting last lift at sundown, there is all the terrain you could want for 3-4 weeks of training. From powder bowls and terrain parks to piste-perfect groomers and mogul fields, you’ll soon be tackling it all. Sun Peaks is a vibrant and friendly place, it will capture your heart and it won’t be long before you return to be a full time ski patroller.

Transfers

Outbound and return transfers are included from Kamloops Airport as standard with all bookings, subject to arrival times if you book your flights.

Shared hotel accomodation

Enjoy Ski-in/ski-out accommodation at the Hearthstone Lodge. Bedrooms accommodate 2 per room and benefit from a shared ensuite, TV, high-speed internet and storage.
Once qualified, you will be staying in staff accommodation pre-arranged by the WSC.

Meal Plan

Your meal plan will include four breakfasts and dinners per week.

Season Lift Pass

Your lift pass is season long, this means if you decide to add additional weeks your lift pass will be valid.

Lift pass benefits include discounts in selected shops and restaurants as well as on some activities, equipment rentals, maintenance and repairs.

Resort Representative

A rep is in the resort to oversee the course. Reps are knowledgeable about the resort, qualifications and training, and have often taken part in the course previously.

Training Package

Ski Patrol training is provided 4-5 days a week, typically Monday-Friday. Mentoring and shadowing the Patrol team is often then scheduled for days over the weekend, plus a two week period at the end.

Heli Skiing

Landing on top of the world in a deserted, pristine snowfield with endless untouched slopes will, without a doubt, be one of the best feelings you will ever experience. Whilst this is not included in your package at Sun Peaks, you can add this if taking the Revelstoke Bolt-on with Heli package.

Weekly Socials

From Pool comp night, Flood lit riding and Mexican Margarita Night. There’s always something going on, in or around the resort. Between these and the Bolt-Ons, you will have some experiences to remember for the rest of your life, with new lifelong friends.

Not Included

FLIGHTS (add flights for an extra £450)
MEALS (lunches and Weekends)
INSURANCE
ANCILLARY BOLT-ON COURSES-Heli-ski not included
EQUIPMENT OR RENTALBACKCOUNTRY (3-14 day Backcountry experiences are also possible at the end of this course.)

Book Your Course Today

Whilst this paves to way to a fantastic winter career. Whether you become a ski patroller matters not; what matters is its impact on you. You will be left with a varied toolbox full of life skills that can be used in all facets of your life or career. Having compassion and saving someone’s life is the most rewarding event that could happen to a person. So whether you venture deep into the mountains regularly or find yourself in elevated risky environments, you will now be that calm individual that everyone relies on. In addition to having an extensive first aid qualification that will shine on any CV, you will have the best time of your life. A mammoth 8 week confidence-building exercise.

Hold My Place

Dates & Prices

Dates Accommodation Triple room Double room Flights

6th Feb to 1st April

The Hearthstone Lodge

£7300

£7700

+£550

FAQ

Find out all of the most frequently asked questions